Creating a paradise in an ant nest

Chapter 13 Cultivating Spirit Farmers, The First Spirit Artifact

The Hall of Merit Cultivation.

The dazzling array of cultivation techniques jade slips and basic books were neatly arranged in categories, resembling a large library.

The servants may look around here at will, but they may not take anything away.

Liu He found the "Gathering Spirit and Qi Technique" and settled down at a quiet desk to study it.

The contents recorded in the jade slip of the cultivation method are very detailed, and some difficult parts are annotated to facilitate the disciples' learning.

These early-stage Qi cultivation techniques and secret arts are not particularly complicated.

That being said, having a senior with profound knowledge to guide them would definitely be beneficial for their learning of the techniques.

The problem is that the handyman disciples are too ordinary and do not deserve to be valued and carefully taught by their seniors.

"Haaah—"

Late at night, Liu He, who had been diligently studying the martial arts for three hours, let out a long yawn.

He has basically memorized the contents of the "Gathering Spirit and Qi Technique" and will review it again tomorrow before he can begin practicing.

"I still have to be on duty as a forest ranger during the day, so I should go back and rest."

He thought to himself.

For a period of time afterward, he would spend most of his time in the library.

On his first journey into the path of cultivation, he had a great deal to learn about magic and knowledge.

For example, basic spells include: Lightness Spell, Illumination Spell, and Spells for Refining Spiritual Artifacts.

It also includes content on various arts and crafts related to cultivating immortality.

Liu He returned to his room.

Before going to sleep, he went into the ant nest to check on the ant colony.

"These large worker ants have eaten the Meridian Opening Pill, but these few haven't."

"This specialized soldier ant has consumed the Meridian Opening Pill."

"The larvae that ate the Meridian-Opening Pill grew noticeably faster and were more active."

"Unfortunately, this little worker ant ate too much elixir at once and died."

"..."

He was like a researcher, clearly distinguishing between various experimental groups, control groups, blank groups, and so on.

"In conclusion, it's definitely beneficial for ants to take the elixir, especially for larvae. As long as they don't take too much at once, there won't be any side effects."

"It's time to feed the queen ant."

He had previously worried about problems and hadn't fed the queen ant the Meridian-Opening Pill.

Inside the cave, there was still a lot of that half of the Meridian Opening Pill left.

Liu He decided to feed the queen ant and then feed the rest of the ant colonies in batches, leaving most of the food for the larvae.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

morning.

Liu He arrived at the forest farm on time to pick up his work.

"Liu He, everything was normal last night, nothing happened. I'll be going now..."

Sun Yan was about to leave when he suddenly stopped.

He looked Liu He up and down in disbelief: "Senior Brother Liu, is that a Dharma robe?"

"Yes, I just received it yesterday."

Congratulations, Senior Brother Liu.

Sun Yan felt very uncomfortable.

Why was Liu He able to break through to the Qi Refining stage so quickly?

As fellow trial cultivators with inferior spiritual roots, what makes him different?

He practiced his skills very diligently, hardly resting during the day, and slept in the forest area when he was on duty at night.

He has worked so hard, yet he still sees no hope of breaking through to the Qi Refining stage.

Liu He, who was guarding the same forest area as him, broke through to the Qi Refining stage, and Song Qian, whom he secretly loved, also broke through to the Qi Refining stage... But he could only be eliminated from the sect when his six-month term was up, leaving without any dignity.

Liu He was unaware of the impact his promotion would have on Sun Yan. As usual, he first fed the ant nest with spirit rice, and then patrolled the forest area.

On the way, we met Li Liangtian from the neighboring forest area.

Li Liangtian was equally surprised by his rapid promotion: "From now on, I'll have to call you Senior Brother Liu. How did you break through so quickly? Half a Meridian Opening Pill had such a good effect?"

He felt no jealousy, only joy at seeing his friend's progress.

"I had a bit of luck, so my breakthrough was quick. What about you? How's the effect of half a Meridian Opening Pill? Can you break through to Qi Refining before the deadline?"

Liu He made up an excuse to brush it off.

He secretly resolved not to tell others about his cultivation progress in the future, lest it arouse suspicion.

Breaking through the Qi Refining stage in just over four months is excellent, but not enough to attract attention.

Song Qian and Ma Guanming both broke through to the Qi Refining stage faster than Liu He. Everyone has their own methods, and no one would pry into someone else's privacy.

Li Liangtian smiled and said, "The Meridian Opening Pill is very effective, helping me to open three meridians! At this rate, I only need one or two more meridians to break through to the Qi Refining stage before the deadline. I'll figure out a solution then."

Half a Meridian-Opening Pill can open up three meridians?

Liu He thought to himself, "This can be considered a special talent."

According to the people of Lingdan Pavilion, everyone's constitution is different, and a single Meridian Opening Pill can open up at least four meridians and at most five.

Li Liangtian's half-pill of the Meridian Opening Pill opened up three meridians, making the elixir far more effective than others.

"Okay. If you need spirit stones later, I can lend you some."

Liu He currently receives a monthly salary of three spirit stones.

He trusted Li Liangtian's character and was willing to help him achieve his goal. It would be a great pity if Li Liangtian failed to break through to the Qi Refining stage and stayed in the sect because he lacked two or three spirit stones.

"Then thank you in advance."

Li Liangtian was deeply moved. Liu He's willingness to lend him such a precious spirit stone showed his trust in him.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The next few days.

Liu He guards the forest farm during the day and studies magic at the Gongfa Pavilion at night. He also practices the "Gathering Spirit and Accumulating Qi Technique," keeping him busy and fulfilled.

After learning about the sect's Myriad Weapons Peak, Talisman Peak, Pill Peak, and Spirit Plant Peak, he decided, after careful consideration, to pursue the path of "cultivation" and become a spiritual farmer.

Lingnong specializes in three types of magic: wood, earth, and water.

Of these three systems, the wood system is the primary one, while the earth and water systems are secondary.

The spells they practiced were all related to planting, cultivating, and assisting the growth of spiritual plants.

The main reason he chose the path of the Spirit Farmer was to go to the Spirit Plant Peak.

Lingzhi Peak is located in the center of Qianyuan Mountain. It is shrouded by a second-order spirit-gathering array, and is rich in spiritual energy. It is divided into four spirit plant gardens.

The spiritual trees, herbs, flowers, and grasses among them are all valuable spiritual plants and precious assets of the sect.

If Liu He can reach Lingzhi Peak, he can bring his ant nest there and develop his ant colony!

That was his real purpose.

He chose to look after the forest farm when he joined the sect for the same reason.

Developing an ant colony in an area covered by a second-order spirit-gathering array and filled with spiritual plants would definitely be extremely beneficial.

A few more days passed.

Liu He arrived at Wanqi Peak.

He came to collect the spiritual artifact.

As a perk of officially becoming a menial disciple, the sect allows one to receive a free spiritual weapon.

That's how Ma Guanming obtained his magical talisman brush.

On Wanqi Peak, numerous sacred pavilions and magnificent halls are scattered about.

Liu He watched with curiosity, hearing the clanging sounds of forging and seeing bursts of fire shooting into the sky.

After asking around, he arrived at a rather ordinary two-story attic.

Step through the gate.

He saw a burly, fleshy-faced monk holding two "iron balls" in his hands.

"May I ask, senior brother, is this the place where newly promoted menial servants receive their spiritual weapons?"

"Yes. My surname is Hong."

Hong Jianxiong had a rough voice; he was an outer disciple of the Wanqi Peak, at the sixth level of Qi Refining.

"Senior Brother Hong, I am Liu He, a junior disciple serving in menial tasks. May I ask what kind of spiritual weapon I can receive?"

Liu He bowed respectfully, then took out his identity jade token to prove his identity.

Hong Jianxiong casually glanced at his identity jade token and waved his hand, saying, "You can pick any of the spiritual artifacts in this building. Take whichever one you like."